Tag Archives: IRLib

In Part 1 of this series, we demonstrated how to send signals using simple Infrared PWM on Arduino. In this Part 2 post we look at sending RAW IR signals – specifically a RAW NEC signal and a longer RAW Mitsubishi Air Conditioner signal. We have also improved the method shown in Part 1due to some issues we identified when sending ‘real’ signals versus the ‘test’ signal we used before. (More on that later). In Part 3, we will take the signals from this post and show how to send them using their binary (or Hex) representation, which saves lots of SRAM.

Original NEC 32-bit and Mitsubishi 88-bit Signals displayed using AnalysIR

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We are often asked on discussion boards, about conflicts between IRremote or IRLib and other Arduino Libraries. In this post, we present a sketch for ‘Simple Infrared PWM on Arduino’. This is the first part in a 3 part series of posts. Part 1 shows how to generate the Simple Infrared PWM on Arduino (AKA carrier frequency), using any available IO pin and without conflicting with other libraries. Part 2 will show how to send a RAW infrared signal using this approach and Part 3 will show how to send a common NEC signal from the binary or HEX value.

Dublin, Ireland – 17th April 2015. We are happy to announce the latest release of AnalysIR V1 preview #2 is now available for download by our backers & supporters. Existing users of AnalysIR will receive an email with instructions on how to download this version. New users will receive the details as part of the registration process.

AnalysIR Screenshot

A major highlight of this release is full AnalysIR support for our soon to be released LearnIR (IR Learner). LearnIR delivers the best performance available for receiving and sending Infrared signals with excellent accuracy.

This post is the second in a two-part series about Reverse Engineering AC Infrared protocols. This time we look at the Mitsubishi Air Conditioner IR Protocol. The project was undertaken by two of our users in France (Vincent & Mathieu), with the help of AnalysIR, who collaborated to reverse engineer this Mitsubishi and previously the Panasonic AC Infrared protocol, both examples of the more challenging AC Infrared protocols. Not only did they identify the individual field codes & checksum but also provided some impressive documentation. Detailed information is available via GitHub which is linked below. This 288 data bit Mitsubishi AC Infrared protocol is composed of two consecutive frames. Both frames are always identical for each signal sent. In common with most AC units the complete settings are sent with every IR signal (temperature, fan, swing etc…). AnalysIR was used to record and turn the signal into HEX/Binary format from which the reverse engineering of the individual fields was tackled.

Anyone who has tried controlling an Air Conditioner unit using an Arduino, USB IR Toy, RPi or any MCU will know how difficult it can be to record the longer infrared signals they use. Typical TV systems use IR signals circa 32 bits long, while this Chigo AC unit uses a signal with 197 marks & spaces (or 97 data bits). One of our users, Sertunc – from Istanbul in Turkey, reported his success using AnalysIR to easily record the signal timings for his AC unit and sent us the details along with some nice photos. After testing the validity of the recorded signals using an Arduino, he then set about loading the signals onto his Samsung smart phone (models S4, s4 mini, S5 and more supported). This was helped by installing the free ‘Samsung IR – Universal Remote‘ app onto his phone via Google Play.

Many electronics enthusiasts will be familiar with how Infrared receivers demodulate IR signals. In this post we show a visualisation of the time lag and distortion of the signals as they pass through the IR receiver for demodulation and noise filtering. Most DIY projects use the raw timings from the IR receiver to decode individual signals. However, not many will be aware that IR receivers can distort the signal timings by significant amounts. Fortunately, common IR decoders take this into account and compensate for timing distortions introduced by infrared demodulators / receivers.

Recently we have been helping several members on the Arduino forum to record and playback their remote control signals from their Air Conditioners. These signals are typically much longer than those of TVs or common media devices. The 2 most popular libraries for Arduino, IRremote & IRlib are excellent, but have some limitations which we have covered in a previous post. In this post we address one particular issue that is proving challenging to users.

Over the last few months we have been regular contributors to the Arduino and other forums, answering questions about Infrared remote control projects. It became apparent that beginners typically trip up on many common ‘pitfalls’. So we decided to list off our ‘Top 10’.

Dublin, Ireland – 31st January 2014. We are happy to announce the latest ‘New Year’ release of AnalysIR to all our backers & supporters. Since the completion of the crowd-funding campaign on Indiegogo we have added over 125 updates and enhancements to AnalysIR, with more to come.

AnalysIR decodes over 75 of the most common base CIR protocols formats, including TVs, STBs, Air Conditioners & other variants/devices, and boasts a comprehensive range of features to help you as a Maker or Professional. This translates into many 10,000s of actual devices. It also analyzes 99.9%+ of all infrared remote control signals.

That is Awesome! Great work with this software. I have and will recommend it to anyone I know that would be interested in IR signals =). Now I am just waiting for my IR KIT so I can continue my quest =)

Raspberry Pi User, Sweden

{re: Silver Bullet IR Receiver} And I must (again) state: The bullet is just a beautiful design. J

Oscilloscope User, WA - USA

I went thru’ your superbly written intro guide and used AnalysIR last night and finally solve my AC IR mystery. Nice piece of SW and well written documentation makes it a pleasure to use.Thank You.

Arduino User, KL - Malaysia

Once again, thanks for your assistance recently and also for AnalysIR, a really brilliant piece of software that has really helped me with my project{Air Conditioner}. The learner/sensor kit has also helped a great deal.

Arduino User, UK

Truly a wonderful tool! I can’t imagine going back to how I did this before. If only I had this back when I did home automation all the time. Geez what a cluster that was…Without your excellent tool I couldn’t have done {my AC} project;Keep up the GREAT work!later – L.

USB IR Toy User, KY USA

Thanks for making such awesome tool to decode IR Signals.

RPI/LIRC User, India

Hello, your program is simply fantastic !! I lost whole days trying to decode my remote control for my Mitsubishi heat pump. With your program {AnalysIR} without reading various tutorials I have decoded everything in a moment, I have saved in raw LIRC {format}. I tried and everything worked the first time. ….Congratulations again for your work !!

AnalysIR User, Italy

I have downloaded AnalysIR and used it. There is one word I can say about it – AWESOME!!! It took me 10 minutes to decode required parts of an AC protocol.I highly recommend it.

Thanks!! I was able to change the volume of my TV with the photon shield like a champ! I just ordered some more shields for our project. This is going to be great! I especially love the range of the IR LEDs.

Particle Photon User, SC USA

….Your tool is great. It is surely worth the money that I paid for. Thanks a lot for the great piece of software. It is working perfectly.

AnalysIR User, India

… I’ve got an old toy remote that’s failing and I wanted to capture the codes while it still mostly works. I’m also doing some animatronics for haunted houses and escape rooms and using a number of FurReal Friends toys that have IR controls …

LearnIR User, VA USA

I’ve figured out my AC Sanyo RCS-AR1 checksum. …. Once again. Thank you so much for your time and effort to develop {such a} wonderful application.

ESP8266 NodeMCU User, CA USA

I think you are the only company in the world that sell equipment like this.

I just wanted to comment that you have the best documentation of any program I have purchased, and I have quite a few of them. They are so detailed.

AnalysIR User, Canada

….Your tool is great. It is surely worth the money that I paid for. Thanks a lot for the great piece of software. It is working perfectly.

AnalysIR User, India

You guys are amazing!!Thank you!

AnalysIR User, GA USA

Just to say that i am very happy with the program. I Can decode a Toshiba aircon and transmit via arduino.

Arduino User, Denmark

….and thanks for devoloping this great software! It is very easy and straight forward to use it !

NodeMCU/WemOS user, Turkey

Truly a wonderful tool! I can’t imagine going back to how I did this before. If only I had this back when I did home automation all the time. Geez what a cluster that was…Without your excellent tool I couldn’t have done {my AC} project;Keep up the GREAT work!later – L.

USB IR Toy User, KY USA

….. now i can send commands to my air conditioner from Arduino , thanks for your support and good software

IRLib User, Israel

What can I say? I’m not a programmer, I’m skilled in hardware, but with AnalysIR software and 2/3 hours, my Samsung AR9000 series AC system is now controlled by Arduino!!! Also tested NodeMCU to acquire the signal and also in this case all works very well! …..Thanks, thanks, thanks!!! A fantastic software!

Arduino User, Italy

Thanks for your World Class – customer support.

Arduino User, Poland

Congratulations for your work, specially for the detailed info provided to the users in their first steps. I know AnalysIR from Hackaday. I was looking for a good and not so much difficult way to study IR technology.

Arduino User, Spain

Thanks, both for the great app. And the update….

AnalysIR User, Denmark

My main interest in your project was your ability to detect {modulation} frequencies.

AnalysIR Coupon & New Products

Use coupon code 10offanalysir during checkout to get 10% off purchases of AnalysIR software (Maker & Pro Editions only), for a limited time only. Also check out our newly released MakeIR modules & shieldsvia our webshop.